Signal lantern



April 3, 1928.

E. J. WELDER SIGNAL LANTERN Filed Aug. 3. 1920 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 KJWeZdef NTOR ATTORNEY @Mll.

April 3, 1928. 1,664,653

E. J. WELDER SIGNAL LANTERN Filed Aug. a. 1929 s- Sheets-Sheet 2' W WHH w" a/ ATTORNEY 1 d6, INVENTOR I April 3, 1928.

E. J. WELDER SIGNAL LANTERN Filed Aug. 5. 1920 s sheets-sheet a I izcfi Valder ENTOR W H my:

WITNESSQ S Patented Apr. 3, 1928.-

2, UNITED STATES EDWARD J. WELDER, OF SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS.

SIGNAYL LANTERN.

Application med August a, 1920. Serial No. 400,893.

The object of my. present invention is the provision of a lantern designed more par-v ticularly for use on an automobile for direction signal urposes, though it may also be used to a vantage on aeroplanes and vehiclesof various kinds .as well as on the streets of cities and roads and highways in the country.

To the attainment of the foregoing the in- 110 vention consists in the im rovement as hereinafter described and de nitely claimed.

lln the accompanying drawings, hereby made a part hereof Figure 1 is a front elevation of my novel lantern.

Figure 1 is a vertical central section taken in the plane indicated by the line 1 -1 of Fi ure 2.

igure 2 is a side elevation of the lantern.

Figures 2 and 2 are horizontal sections taken in the planes of the lines 2= and 2"-2 respectively of Figure 2.

Figures 3 and t are detail perspectives ofthe shell and its appurtenances.

Figure 5 is a view illustrative ofthe interior contacts of the shell.

Figure 6 is a detail perspective of the improved bracket comprised in the lantern. igure 7 is a detail view of the reflector employed in the hoods of the lantern.

Figure 8 is a detail front elevation of one of the reflectors.

Figure 9 is a detail view of the switch for controlling the lamps. Figures 10 and 11 are views of details hereinafter explicitly referred to.

- Figure 12 is a fragmentary section taken in the plane indicated by the line 1212 of Figure 1 and showing the electrical connection between one post and one contact. 1

Similar numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all of the views of the drawings. v

Among other elements my novel lantern comprises a hood or casing 1, and a hood or casing 2. An interposed connecting memher 3 is employed to join'the hoods 1 and 2, and the hood 2 surmounts a bracket 4 through the medium of which the lantern may be fastened wherever desired; the said bracket 4 being preferably in the form of a tubular standard, equipped with an apertured base flange 5. The said elements 1, 2, 3 and 4.- are preferably of sheet metal and are fixed with respect to each other. The

hood 1 is provided with op os'ite lenses 6, and the hood2 is provide with opposite lenses 7. According to the scheme of my invention the hood 1 is designed to show a green light, and the hood 2 is designed to show a red light. This endmay be achieved by makin the lenses 6 green and the lenses 7 red or y making the bulb of the incandescent electric lamp '8 in the hood 1 green and the bulb .9 of the incandescent lamp in the hood 2 red, as is deemed most expedient. Extending through the member 3 and into the hoods 1 and 2 is a shell 10, having at itselids bayonet slots 11 for the connection of the incandescent electric lamps 8 and 9. The said shell 10 is designed for the assage of wires, and other wires are attac ed to the shell to connect the filaments of the lamps 8 and 9 to a source of electric energy and the shell is carried in a bracket 12 o fiber or other suitable insulating material. As clearly shown in Figures 3, 4 and 5, the shell .10 comprises spaced and alined tubular portions and an intermediate oining strip 59 which bridges the bracket 12, Figure 4. The said bracket 12 is housed and fixed in the connecting member 3 and is provided with an aperture 13 for the passage of a bolt 60 to fasten the shell to the- I lantern casing. At 14 the insulating bracket or block 12 is provided with a binding post for the electrical connection to the filament of the lower lamp 9, and at 15 the said block is provided with a bindin post for the electrical connection to the lament of the upper lamp 8.

In the shell 10 are arranged contact members 16 and 17, best shown in Figure 5. These contact members. are arranged in conductive housings 62 which contain springs 18 to force the members against complementary contact members of the lamps 8 and 9, and are electrically connected with said bindin posts.

Manifestly when desired the shell portions 10 and the shell-joining portion 59 may be molded on the insulating bracket 12; also, the ends of the bracket 12 may be rounded to conform to the cross-sectional curvature of the member 3, though this latter is not essential inasmuch as my invention is not limited to a member 3 of circularcross-section.

In each of the hoods 1 and 2 are arranged pairs of reflectors 19, the backs of whlch are in accordance with my invention. The'up-v disposed in opposed relation and about the bulbs of the lamps 8 and 9. Garried by each reflector 19 is a comparatively small central deflector 20, there bein therefore, deflectors 20 at opposite sides 0 each lamp. bulb, and one deflector between each bulb and its lens 7, with the convex side of the deflector toward the bulb. These deflectors 20 serve to throw the rays of light back against the reflectors 19 which, in turn, reflect the rays through their respective lenses.

At this point I would have it understood that I prefer to mount each lens of the lantern in a metallic band 21 and to detachably fasten each of the said bands 21 to the lamp casing through the medium of bolts 22, this provision being made in order to permit of access being readily gained to the interior of either hood as well as to render convenient the cleaning of the inner surfaces of the lenses. It will be noticed in this connection that the hoods are provided at 23 with grooves for wire spring rings at to hold the lenses in position and against rattling. Metallic annuli 24: protect the lenses from the rings 24. a

The switch for controlling the supply of current to the filament of the lamps 8 and 9 is best shown in Figure 9, and by reference to said figure it will be noted that 25 is an insulating post of fiber or other appropriate material, 26 are switch blades, 27 are finger pieces of insulating materlal for operating the switch blades, 28 are terminals or contact posts of such form that the blades are adapted to pass over the posts and the posts are enabled to hold the blades in good contact, and 29 are retainers or neutral posts. The switch illustrated is for use in conjunction with two lanterns constructed per left hand terminal or contact post 28 is electrically connected with the filament of the upper bulb in the left hand lantern, and

the lower left hand terminal 28 is electrically connected with the filament of the lower bulb in the left hand lantern. The upper right hand terminal 28 is electrically connected with the filament of the upper bulb in the right hand lantern, and the lower right hand terminal 28 is electrically connected with the filament in the lower bulb of Y Y the right hand lantern. It will also be understoci that all of the filaments of the four bulbs a": grounded in conventional mamfer through the shells 10 and the lantern cases;

and it will further be understood that the levers of switch blades 26 are arranged in the circuits with a source of electric energy as shown diametrically in Figure 9. Manifestly when the left hand blade 26, for instance, is in contact with the upper left 'hand terminal 28 the filament of t e u er bulb in the left hand lantern will be caii ed to glow, and this while the filament in the es aces lower left hand bulb is idle. When the left hand blade 26 is in" contact with the lower left hand terminal 28 the filament of the lower bulb of the left hand lantern will be caused to glow while the filament of the upper left hand bulb is idle. As shown in Figure 10 the cover 30 for the bottom. of the switch is flat on the body where the switch is disposed, and is oval at its underside so as to be adapted to be fastened to the steering wheel ofan automobile. Figure 11 shows the switch cover 31 which is of oval shape on its upper 'side, and slotted at 31" for the passage of wires and switch levers,

fender or any appropriate part of an automobile, and be controlled by the switch lo= cated by preference on the steering wheel of the automobile though the switch may be located at any other desired point of the automobile and electrically connected with a source of current supply and the lam s. 4

' The reflectors 19 are provided with ayonet slots 19 to receive the screws 22 and assure detachable fixture of the reflectors in the hoods.

In operation when the green light is caused to glowit is intended to indicate that the automobile is in motion. When two of the lanterns are employed, one as either side of the automobile, if a red light is shown at the right hand side of the vehicle and a green light is shown at the left hand side of the vehicle it indicates that the automobile will turn to the right, while when the arrangements of lights is reversed the indication will be thatthe automobile will turn toward the left. Again when both red lights are displayed while the automobile is in motion the signal will carry the meaning that the automobile is about to make a stop, and when the green lights are again displayed the information will be imparted that the car is starting to proceed forwardly. Manifestly the lights can be seen by arties in front of the automobile and also y parties in rear of the same, and t erefore will safe1 guard pedestrians as we 1 as persons in a ollowing automobile It is intended that when the automobile is not in motion for both of the red lights to beshown, and it will be understood that the red 1i hts can be seen from the front as well as mm the back.

My novel signal lantern is especially adapted for use to advantage on the automobiles of fire departments and police departments and on ambulances 'and other emergency automobiles which are'ordinarily driven at a high. rate of speed and are generally given the right of way.:

ent, is:-

l. A lamp bracket comprising in combina-.

tion with a casing, a substantially crossshaped' member formed of insulating material and defining oppositely extending attaehing arms and.opp0sitely extending posts disposed at rightangles to said arms, said arms having a central bolt receiving opening extending longitudinally therethrough and their outer ends shaped, to conform to the cross sectional shape of the casing, and a lamp socket mounted upon each of the posts.

2. In a signal lantern, a casing comprising spaced hoods and a reduced tubular portion joining the hoods, an insulating bracket mounted within the casing and comprisin oppositely extending attaching arms an posts extending centrally from and disposed at rightangles to said arms, said arms having a central opening extending longitudinally therethrough and their outer ends shaped to conform to the cross sectional shape of the tubular portion of the casing, a bolt extending through the opening and the tubular portion of the casing to secure the bracket in position and lamp sockets mounted .upon the posts and extending into the casing heads.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

EDWARD J. WELDER. 

